Aussie race ace ready to embrace number one spot at King’s Lynn
King’s Lynn newcomer Ben Cook says he’s ready to embrace the challenge of starting the season in the No.1 position.
Cook joins the PSH Environmental Stars with an average of 6.99 from his time with ROWE Motor Oil Premiership champions Belle Vue last year.
That was fractionally below fellow incoming Lynn rider Richard Lawson, who was on 7.09 with Leicester, but with Lawson’s average reduced by 2.5% - the normal British discount for riders - it means Cook is top of the list going into the new campaign.
Manager Rob Lyon is yet to declare his full riding order, but Cook is guaranteed to be in the No.1 berth as the regulations dictate the highest-averaged member of the team starts there, and that means he will lead the Stars off in Heat 1 against some of the top men in the sport.
Cook said: “Starting at No.1 will definitely be a new challenge for me, but it’s one I’m ready to take on.
“I know it comes with extra responsibility, but I feel like I’ve made good progress over the last few years and I’m looking forward to testing myself in the role.”
Cook accepts the situation could change monthly because all of the Stars’ top six, going down to Chris Harris who will begin the season at reserve, have starting averages within one point of each other.
But he believes Lyon along with fellow promoters Keith Chapman and Dale Allitt have come up with a formula which could well make for an exciting campaign at the Adrian Flux Arena.
Cook said: “I think it’s a very balanced team with a lot of potential.
“Having six riders with similar averages means we’ll be strong through the order, and that consistency could make us a very competitive side.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes together. We’ll always have a strong reserve, which is key.”
Cook will make his Stars debut on Monday, March 24 when they host Oxford in the KO Cup, with the opening track action just under a week earlier as Niels-Kristian Iversen celebrates his Testimonial on Sunday, March 16 (3pm).
